Spiral repeating-guide for rolling-mills.



J. B. McKIBBIN. SPIR/IL IIEPEATING GUIDE Fon ROLLING MILLS.

INVENTOR Patented Api'. 4, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET l YEL www JQ NN 1. B. McKlBBIN.

sPlHAL REPEATING GUIDE FOR RoLLlNG MILLS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. 1915.

Patented'Apr. 4,1916.

A3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wrm Ess- '1. B. MCKIBBIN. SPIRAL REPEATING GUIDE FOR ROLLING MILLS.

R L L Patented Apr 4, 1916 3 SHLETS-SHEET 3 L NVENTOR n APPLICATION FLED MAYIB. |915- r 4ion.

JOHN B. MCKIBBIN, CRAFTDN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNO-R'OF THREE-EIGIITHS T0 EDMONDS J. 'SUGDEN, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

S'IEIRAI.'l REPEATING-GUIDE FOR .ROLLING-MILLS.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

Original application filed March 12, 1915, Serial No.13,854. Divided and this application filed May 18,

To aZZwwm t may concern.' y Be it known that I, J oHN B. MoKiBB1N,'a citizen of thev United States, residing at Grafton, in the county of AlleghenyV andl 5 State of Pennsylvania, -have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spiral Repeating -Guides for Rolling-Mills, of which the following is a specification.`

ries of stands-of reducing rolls, one of the rolls of each set being directly driven froml a prime mover through continuously con- -necting Journal couplings, in general axial V alinement, and their co-actiiig rolls arranged either above or below said rolls, pro viding sets of three-high and two-high rolls, or with any" other suitable arrangement of rolls, whereby t0 utilize the spiral repeating guide forming the subject matter of the present application. Said guide Vprovides for the turning movement of the blanklat erally toward the next pass, and for also reversing its `direction, whereby to return it tov A the same or an adjacent stand of rolls, as

hereinafter more fully described.

The'presentapplication is a division `of my prior application for continuous rolling mills,filed March 12, 1915, Serial No. 13854.v Referring to the drawings-Figure 1 is a general plan view of the mill, vportions being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a View of the several stands of rolls arranged in axial alinement, as viewed from the line II. II., Fig. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view indicated by the line III. III. of Fig.` 1. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view, indicated by the linev IV. IV. of Fig. 1. Fig. 5" is a similar sectional view, indicated by the line o v. v. of Fig.. i. Fig. c is a Collective dean view, showing the two sides of the annular spiral guiding mechanism in internal and external elevation respectively. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view through a i portion of the annular spiral guiding mechanism.

' In describing the invention, and for the purpose of making its construction, operation and advantages entirely' clear, it will be 1915. Serial No. 28,862.

economy.

tween supplementalmounted directly above roll 3 in the housing,

described, and is illustrated,'in connection 'with my improved continuous rolling mill,

but, asv stated, is not necessarily limited to such combination. In such mill, I provide a continuous-seriesof rolls 2, 3,4, 5, 6,in axial alinement, mounted in the usual housings 7 of well-known construction, connected by Athe usual coupling boxes and spindles 8, 9, My invention relates to improvements 10 in continuous rolling mills, utilizing a seand adapted tobe driven through coupling l0 from an engine or suitable driving motor. By this arrangementl utilize direct driving power throughout each of said several rolls, without the necessity of any intermediate gearing, thereby maintaining the vpower at a maximum with the highest eliiciency and The first and second passes of the mill are provided between supplemental rolls 2, 2a and 2b, mounted in the housing directly above roll 2, and the third and fourth passes, be-

rolls 3, l3a and 3",

as shown, such supplemental rolls being conand driven throughl a train of gearing 11, whereby to transmit motion in the desired direction, and with a positive application of Supplemental rolls 3 and 3b ofthe second stand are driven in the same way and direction, by intervening couplings, as will be readily understood.

The third stand of rolls consists of a main roll 4, and an upper roll la idly mounted in the housing 7. `The fourth stand consists of a main roll 5 and a lower roll 5a mounted in the same way below the main roll; and the fifth stand consists of the main roll 6, and an upper idly mounted roll '63, the several rolls of each stand revolvin in the direction indicated by the arrows. y this arrangement, it will be seen that in the lirst and second stands I provide three vertically arranged rolls, positively driven, the rolls of each stand operating alternately inopposite directions, and capable of acting on the blank in both directions, forward and back the outermost of said rolls 2 and 2b .nected by the usual boxes and spindles 8, 9,

power, from the endmost spindle of the l main axially connected train 2-3-4-5-6.

respectively being capable of adjustment with relation to the center roll 2a to accurately gage the pass in a manner well understood.

In the same manner the second stand of rolls, consisting of the main roll 3 and supplemental positively driven rolls 3a and 3b, is capable of simultaneously rolling the blank in both dirctions, the blank thereafter passing through the single pass of the subsequent stands, to-wt, the third, fourth and fifth respectively, in alternating directions, the several idler rolls 4a, 5a and 6abeing caused to rotate and reduce the blank by engagement therewith, and dependent on the driving action of the main rolls 4, 5

and 6.

As shown, the diameters of rolls 3, 5, 5 and 6 successively increase over the diameter of roll 2, whereby to increase their peripheries, so as to successively increase the peripheral speed of the rolls and the speed of the blank correspondingly, in conformity with its reduction by the successive passes, and to take up the resulting increase in length of the blank, in conformity therewith. Thus, in practice, the diameter of roll 2 may be 12 inches; the diameter of roll 3, 13 inches; the diameter of roll 4, 14 inches; the diameter of roll 5, 16 inches; and the diameter of roll 6, 18 inches. By this arrangement I provide a straight line of directly driven rolls, each running at the same R. P. M. but each having an increased peripheral speed successively throughout the series. The respective diameters of the rolls, however, may be, of course, varied or modified to suit the conditions of use, power, speed of the mill, or other circumstances within the province of the designing engineer.

The first stand of rolls 2, 2a, 2", is arranged with its passes in alinement with the discharge door of a furnace 12, from which the blank 13 passes outwardly over feed rollers 14 positively driven by sprocket gearing 15 or other suitable mechanism, by which the blank is delivered to the first pass between main roll 2 androll 2.

Beyond the first pass of rolls, I arrange e the spiral repeating guide 16, hereinafter described in detail, by means of which the blank is passed one 'or more times around within an outer shell and over an inner drum, thereby being advanced spirally yalong and around said drum and within the shell, to a point where it emerges at the upper level in alinement with the second pass of the first stand of rolls, between rolls 2' and 2b. On the other side, beyond the first stand of rolls, and between it and the second stand, I provide guiding mechanism whereby the blank is twisted up edgewise by means of a gradually varying guide face on the inside of an abutment 17, which diverts the blank around into the path between vertically arranged slightly tipped idler rollers 18 at the inside and 19, 19, at the outside thereof, between which the blank passes in a vertical position. One of said rollers 19, 19, or both, may rbe so adjusted with relation to the roller 18 and the desired path of the blank, as to deflect it around and into engagement with the guiding abutment 20 to lead'it to the reverse pass. The blank then travels around in a reverse direction against an abutment 20, similar to abutment 17, having a gradually varying inner contacting face, by which the blank is turned over again flatwise and lided into the third pass between the main roll 3 and supplemental roll 3a of the second stand. Passing beyond said pass, itenters a second spiral repeating guide 16a, similar to guide 16, the convolutions whereof may be less, owing to the increased width of the blank and its lateral spacing. The blank then passes backwardly through the fourth pass, between roll 3u and 3b, and into a third spiral repeating guide 16", which may be of increased length, whereby to advance the blank by several convolutions over to a position in Valinement with the 'fifth pass, between rolls 4 and 4a of the third stand. Beyond such pass I now provide a re-heating or Inuiiie furnace 21, of well-known construction, provided with fuel supply pipes 22, through the interior of which furnace, open at each end, the blank passes and emerges from the other end, being thus reheated in transit. Beyond furnace 21, I provide a fourth spiral repeating guide 16, by which the blank is received at the upper level and spirally progressed around and along and delivered out therefrom atv the lower level, in alinement with the longitudinal chamber of a second re-heating furnace 21a having similar fuel supply'pipes 22a. From said furnace the blank is introduced into the sixth pass, between rolls 5 and 5a of the fourth stand, beyond which it passes through a similar re-heating furnace 2lb having fuel supply pipes 22", and beyond such furnace is a fifth spiral repeating guide 1.6d of the same kind as before described. Saidguide 16d receives the blank at the lower level, advances it, and delivers itat the higher level, in a plane approximating that of the next roll pass. From such guide 16d the blank emerges 1n alinement with and passes through a fourth re-heating fur-' tion. Also that, owing to the varying levels of the different passes, the furnaces 211 and 21c may be on a. higher level than furnaces 21a and 21h, which may be on a relatively lower level, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the spiral repeating guides 16, 16 and 16", these consist, as shown in Fig. 6, of a two-part shell composed of semi-cylindrical portions 25, 25a, separably mounted to provide a continuous hollow drum, one of said sides, as 25, having on the entrance and exit side suitable 1 nlet and outlet openings 25b and 25, as will be readily understood.

A central winding drum 26 is mounted 1n suitable supports 27 and driven by a belt and pulley 28 or other suitable means 1n the proper direction.

The semi-cylindrical sides 25 are provided with spiral inwardly projecting guides 29 throughout their interiors, so arranged as to form continuous spiral passages 30, the ends of the guides 29 being tapered or beveled, as indicated at 31, whereby to facilitate passage of the end of the blank and prevent its sticking or binding at any point. n

The construction of the several guides 16, 16 and 16b is generally similar, 'and that of 16c and 16l also, in respect of the main inner winding drum 26'3 and 26d respectively, except that said drum is hollow,

.as indicated at 32, and is provided with hollow journals mounted in the supports 27c and 27d respectively. Through such hollow journals and the hollow center of each drum, I introduce a fuel supply pipe 33 having suitably spaced outlet apertures, by which gas may be introduced and burned within the drum for heating.

In connection with the spiral repeating guides 16, 16a and 16h, I also provide upper -and lower supplemental rollers 34, 35, and

in the .case of guides 16c and 16c1 I provide upper and lower supplemental rollers 34, 35, and 34d, 35d, idly mounted in the supports 27c and 27d respectively, having hollow journals and each provided with a fuel supply pipe 36, of the same character and purpose as pipe 33. By this means the blank in its passage around vand through the spiral repeating guides is efiiciently re-heated, in addition to the re-heating by the muflle furnaces 21, 21, 21", and 21c. The result is that the blank is maintained in good condition for rolling reduction throughout the several operations, and the continuous reduction is therefore effected without any undue strain on the rolls, thereby reducing the driving power to a minimum.

The advantages of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated by all those familiar with continuous rolling mill operations. It eliminates the necessity of practically any manual operation, requiring cylindrical no attention beyond the maintenance of the parts in good operative condition.

The several reductions are effected successively and' continuously throughout, the speed of operation may be accurately adj usted whereby to secure the best results with a view to the work in hand, and it enables .the accomplishment of rolling and finishing the blank directly from a slab or billet to any desired reduction as to finished shape and gage.

The blank in transit, as it is reduced to the smaller gages, is maintained in a ductile reducible condition by the supplemental reheating treatments,'which greatly add to the eliciency of the mill, while the directly driven main rolls apply the power to the mill to the best advantage.

' It will be understood that the mill is well adapted to the reduction of various sizes and shapes of material within its limitations and possibilities as to the several manipulations provided for, but is best adapted to the rolling of Hats. It greatly economizes the rolling of such shapes, while at the same time insuring uniformity as to gage and character of the metal.

The invention may be variously changed or modified by the skilled mechanic or mill designer to suit the various contingencies of use, and I do not desire to be limited to the particular arrangement, number of stands of rolls, or other parts, or the specific arrangement or detail construction of the elements, except as required by the scope of the allowed claims. i

What I claim is:

1. In combination with reducing rolls, a spiral repeating guide having an outer cylindrical shell provided with inwardly directed spirally arranged guides, and an inner actuating drum.

2. In combination with reducing rolls, a spiral repeating guide having an outer shell provided with inwardly directed spirally arranged guides, an inner actuating drum, and means for heating the said drum. V

3. In combination with reducing rolls, a spiral repeating guide having an outer cylindrical shell provided with inwardly directed spirally arranged guides, an inner actuating drum, and supplemental adjacent co-acting drums.

4. In combination with spiral repeating guide cylindrical shell provided rected spirally arranged actuating drum, co-acting drums, interiors and thereinto.

5. Means for manipulating metal in the manner described consisting of a spiral rereducing rolls, a having an outer with inwardly diguides, an inner and supplemental adjacent said drums having hollow means for introducing fuel manner described consisting of a spiral repeating guide having an outer cylindrical outlet aperture, and an inner rotatable actu- 10 shell provided with inwardly directed ating drum. l

spirally arranged guides, and an inner ro In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my tatable actuating drum. signature in the presence of two witnesses.

6. Means for vmanipulating metal in the f JOHN B MCKIBBEN.

peating guide having an outer cylindrical Witnesses: shell provided with inwardly directed WV. A. I-llezczmcmrr,` v spirally arranged guides, an inlet and an g C. M. CLARKE. 

